Ex-registrar of med varsity apologises

CHENNAI: A former registrar of the state medical university, summoned by the Madras high court for a contemptuous letter she had addressed to the state government, appeared before the first bench on Tuesday and tendered her unconditional apologies.

The first bench comprising Chief Justice M Y Eqbal and Justice T S Sivagnanam, accepting the apologies and dispensing with her further appearance, adjourned the main case relating to the new evaluation system of the Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University to November 23 for further proceedings.

The then registrar of the university, Dr R Srilakshmi, in her letter to the MCI on December 26, 2011, said that though the university had embarked on a new evaluation system 'guided by pragmatic considerations,' the high court had taken a 'hyper-technical stand' and negatived it.

Treating it as a case of prima facie contempt, the court had issued contempt notice to her on November 9 and had directed to appear before the court on Tuesday.

"The then registrar R Srilakshmi, now associate professor and head of the department (in-charge) of medical genetics department of the university is present. She tendered her unconditional apology to the court. The bench accepted the apology and dispensed with her further appearance," the order read.

The issues such as the new evaluation system and the 'failed' students' plea to be permitted to attend second year classes would be decided when the matter is taken up for hearing next.

The registrar, in a letter to MCI had said though the university had embarked on a new evaluation system 'guided by pragmatic considerations,' the high court had taken a 'hyper-technical stand' and negatived it